resqman Senior Forum Member Registered: 12/21/2004 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Posts: 418

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1 Topic: Packing for Northern Tier - Read 376 times. resqman Registered: 12/21/2004 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Posts: 418 Packing for Northern Tier Posted: Tuesday, 9/22/2009: 10:27:00 AM We are heading to Northern Tier Aug We have several troop members who have treked in the last several years but am looking for a broader range of opinions. Mike F Registered: 4/9/2002 Location: Posts: 659 Posted: Tuesday, 9/22/2009: 11:34:46 AM I've been up there 3 times and hope to go many more! But I'm always learning, so look forward to hearing more ideas from others. Here are mine: - A knife sharpener. Cleaning lots of fish with dull fillet knives took much more time. - Small, lightweight, tripod camera stand for taking group pictures. - Extra clothes - only need 1 pair zip-off pants/shorts, 1 pair shorts, 2 t-shirts, 1 long-sleeve shirt, 2 pairs of hiking socks, fleece jacket and 1 pair camp shoes. (All clothes synthetic, quick-dry - only cotton allowed was one t-shirt for sleeping.) - Clif Bars. Crew of older boys were hungry. - 2m portable HAM radio for listening to weather reports. (Also useful for emergency communications.) - UV water purifier - Fire starting kit (cotton balls partially dipped in wax and kept dry in double baggies - great for getting

2 soggy stuff started) - Hip pack for rain gear, compass, sunscreen, DEET, chapstick, etc. This allowed quick access and could be worn while carrying 1 or 2 packs on portages. - Carabiners for rigging bear bags - Bug head net with elastic straps under armpits % DEET - Bag on Snickers Bars for special treat after tough day - Duct tape wrapped around Nalgene bottles (used for bandages and repairs) NT is an awesome experience - enjoy!! BrentAllen Registered: 4/19/2004 Location: Dunwoody, GA Posts: 2350 Posted: Tuesday, 9/22/2009: 11:36:56 AM..A plastic ground cover to go INSIDE the tent. We dodged major flooding, but came close a couple of times...more para cord. We didn't get much of any with the tarp. Needed more clothes lines...lighters, needed for lighting cook stoves. We were always looking for one, especially a dry one that would work...not much, we really had our gear down to a minimum. I took too much fishing gear (lures, etc)..we took one Day pack - leave it at home. Everything goes in the Grey Whales. No extra bags or packs...lighters. See above...switchback pants, nylon Action shirt, wicking Troop t-shirt, poly u/w.. These clothes worked great, dried quickly, were comfortable when wet. Marmot Oracle rain jacket. Canon Powershot A 560 camera in Pelican case, always on my belt loop. If you have to take a camera out of a bag, you are going to miss a lot of photos. XY Bent-shaft paddle, sold at Trading Post. What items did you think about taking, but were glad you left..canoe seats (the cordura-type). We were in kevlar

3 with formed seats. Soooo glad we didn't take these...water filters. We just used bleach and PolarPure. Eagledad Registered: 11/21/2002 Location: Posts: 3265 Posted: Tuesday, 9/22/2009: 1:33:11 PM Camp chairs, the kind with no legs. Because the typical ground in camp is dirt, mud or rocks, that item was missed the most by those who didn t take one. I agree with using waterproof cameras cases or waterproof disposable cameras. You only have about 3 seconds for the really good moose, bear, eagle and other critter shots. Did someone mention bicycle gloves to prevent blisters? The one thing I really liked about Northern Tier over a backpacking trek is taking baths in the lake. I generally took a bath and washed my clothes every other day. Very refreshing in many ways. Barry mmhardy Registered: 5/25/2004 Location: Michigan - Great Lakes Posts: What the Guides Bring Posted: Tuesday, 9/22/2009: 8:56:05 PM I asked my son this. He spent the summer working there. Here is his advice. "While working as an interpreter I had a pretty set list of items that I brought. Scout participants may not share the same list but as I worked there for the summer I would like to think it would help. The main difference between what I packed and what scouts packed is that I, as an interpreter, had my own pack. The crews usually got one gear pack per 3 people. The weight that each scout packed made a difference. Essentials -Lightweight Sleeping Bag - Fold Flat Bowl and spoon -Wet Shoes AND Camp Shoes (misery ensued with constantly wet feet) -Knife (it is a lot of weight for everyone to bring their own (however, I personally brought two, comfort thing)) -Seal Bag (extra protection, one 20L and one 15L bag should fit everything(a 30L bag can be bulky). If you need more space, you need less stuff) -Map case (if you plan to use it more than once by all

4 means, invest. However, the double zip lock freezerbags work as a decent substitute) -Camera -Nalgene (you only need one, it is not Philmont, you are surrounded by water all the time) Clothing Essentials -2pairs pants (zip-off quick dry are best) -2t-shirts (not cotton) -Several pairs of boxer-briefs (whatever is conferrable, offers support, and will keep you dry) -Several Wicking socks and Wool outer (once they are wet, they will NOT dry) -Fleece -RAINJACKET (Rain-pants are redundant since you are getting in and out of water all the time anyway so don t bother. Ponchos are a joke. If you don t have any, it may be the time to invest. Summer 2009 there was seldom a string of good weather longer than 4 days.) -Small camp towel (for feet, drying off soaking legs before entering a sleeping bag, ect.) -Sleeping Clothing (I liked having something dry, comfy, and warm) Tip: Waded up clothing doubles great as a pillow. Luxuries Jetboil (great for my Ramen Noodle or coffee needs) Lightweight Hammock (Used it EVERY sunny day) Mug (if you don t like having breakfast and coffee/hot coco separate) Book or Magazines (these may fit in your mapcase) Candy Bars =] Ultimately if something is forgotten, or you feel you truly need, you can live without it for a time. There was a 7day trip where I managed to forget socks, camp shoes, and a mess kit and lived to tell the tale. Yea my feet were soggy any unhappy but I learned that a big leaves can substitute for a bowl and chopsticks are easy to make with twigs. Don t Bring -Obscene amounts of foot powder (crews, always, without fail bring bottles of foot powder. Hint: I didn t use it all summer and I don t know an interpreter who does.) -Too Many Fishing Poles (I occasionally brought my telescopic pole. Nothing frustrates an interpreter like 7 fishing poles open in a canoe that need to be hand carried on every portage. ) -Giant Tackle Box (Bring a small selection of whatever, you don t need bobs bait shop in a box. Live bait works best anyway) -Day Packs (honestly if you think you will need

5 something thought the day put it in a pocket (ex: camera) or on top of your gear pack (ex: raingear) - Sleeping Pad (I never took one. The ground usually is not cold enough to warrant its use. Unless you have a bad back or it s a comfort thing ultimately you re carrying it) -Canoe Seats (They are nice, but are just one more problem on portages. Plus some canoes have seats that are not canoe seat compatible) "